May 6, 2003

The Australian Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has announced that it will issue a licence for the limited and controlled release of genetically modified cotton into the environment.

The application was made by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

The aim of the field trial is to evaluate the performance of cotton modified to express a new insecticidal protein that is toxic to lepidopteran caterpillars. The cotton also contains an antibiotic resistance marker gene. The release will test the effectiveness of the insecticidal protein produced by the introduced gene and to produce seed for future releases (subject to approval).

The release will involve up to three sites over a total of three hectares in the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley in northern Western Australia, during the 2003 northern cotton growing season.

The decision to issue the licence was made after extensive consultation on the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan with the public, State and Territory governments, Commonwealth agencies, the Federal Environment Minister, the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee and the relevant local council.

Issues relating to the health and safety of people and the protection of the environment raised during the consultation process on this application were considered in finalizing the risk assessment and risk
management plan and in making a decision on whether to issue a licence.
 

The Gene Technology Regulator (the Regulator) has made a decision to issue a licence in respect of application DIR 025/2002 from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). The application requests approval to undertake a limited and controlled release of genetically modified (GM) insecticidal cotton on up to three sites over a total of three hectares during the 2003 northern cotton growing season in the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley in northern Western Australia.

The decision to issue the licence was made after extensive consultation on the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan with the public, State and Territory governments, Commonwealth agencies, the Federal Environment Minister, the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee and the relevant local council, as required by the Gene Technology Act 2000.

Issues relating to the health and safety of people and the protection of the environment raised during the consultation process on this application were considered in finalising the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan and in making a decision on whether to issue a licence.

The licence has been issued with specific licence conditions that will ensure effective implementation of the Risk Management Plan. These conditions include requirements to surround the planting location with a 20 m pollen trap of non-GM cotton, to plant the GM cotton at least 50 m from waterways and to prevent GM cottonseed being fed to livestock or entering into the human food supply. The applicant will also be required to clean the site after harvest and to monitor the planting location for twelve months after harvest and remove all cotton volunteers before flowering. Complete and summary versions of the finalised Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan and the licence conditions can be obtained on-line from the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator’s website or at the address below.

DIR 025/2002 - cotton RARMP in PDF format: http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/dir025finalrarmp.pdf

DIR 025/2002 - cotton RARMP summary in PDF format: http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/dir025finalrarmpsum.pdf 

DIR 025/2002 - cotton licence application summary in PDF format: http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/dir025.pdf 

For further information visit: http://www.ogtr.gov.au